Combing-machine.



l No. 889,998. y PATBNTBD JUNE 9, 1998. A. WBNNING 8 9. H. GEGAUPP.-

UOMBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l5. 1905.

ns rnnr rrr@ ALFRED WENNING AND CHARLES HUBERT GEGAUFF, OF MLHAUSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS lO ELSSSISGHE MASCHINENBAU-GESELLSCHAFT, OF MLHAUSEN, ALSACE, GERMANY.

COMB ING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed July 15, 1905. Serial No. 269,857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED WENNING and CnARLEs HUBERT GGAUFF, both engineers, subjects of the Emperor of Germany, and residents of Mlhausen, Alsace, Germany, have invented new and useful lmprovements in the Heilmann Co11ibi1ig-\/fa chines, of which the following is a full, clear, and com'plete specification.

ln the Heilmann combing machines, that is to say in the class of combing machines which comb tuft by tuft, the combing of the material is effected, as is well known, in the following manner: The tuft escaping from the jaws of the nipper is first combed by the rotary comb, then after the opening of the jaws the picking comb engages in the tuft, the tuft which has been combed is then seized by the drawing olf rollers which grip the material and draw it through the picking comb by plucking it from the fleece or lap, so that the tuft will be combed throughout all its length. The tuft escaping from the jaws of the nipper and combed in the first instance f by the rotary comb, only undergoes this properly from a certain distance from the nipper because the end of thejaws not approaching sufficiently to this comb, the latter acts also only with the end of its tapering teeth, whereby its combing action is diminished. This drawback may be remedied by not allowing the picking comb to strike immediately in front of the jaws, but as far from the latter as the tuft is not more properly combed by the rotary comb but as the tuft itself at such a distance from the nipper does not possess a sufficient resistance to permit of a good penetration of the picking comb, so that it would yield at this distance from the nipper, there has been arranged a support or a plate under the nipper in all thc new Heilmann combing machines. This support or plate is withdrawn under the lower j aw of the nipper during the combing of the top of the tuft, but is displaced before the action of the picking comb, just about at the place where this latter should engage in the tuft to give the necessary resistance and permit of the proper entrance of the picking comb.

According to the present invention the use of this accessory piece is rendered superfluous by the fact that after the combing of the opening of the nipper the tuft is withdrawn within the nipper by an amount equal to the distance of the nipper from that point where the tuft escaping from the nipper ceases to be properly combed by the rotary comb, so that the place where the picking comb shall strike it comes very close to the jaws. ln consequence we can cause the picking comb to penetrate very close to the nipper so that the lower jaw itself serves as the under jaw support to prevent the breaking of the tuft.

ln the drawings illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing the rotary comb and nippers, Figs. 2-7 illustrate the various positions assumed by the parts provided by our invention in a cycle of operations, Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the connection between the feed cylinder'and its operating means.

ln Fig. l, a b represent the part near to the nipper insufficiently combed by the rotary com b E, of the front part a, o c of a tuft.

In Fig. 2 the nipper B B has been opened and the tuft has been withdrawn by about the length a l) within the nipper by a backward motion of the feed cylinder A, so that the picking comb C descending very close to the nipper strikes into the tuft at the point o, which point approaches very close to the jaw B, the tuft being sufficiently sustained by the lower aw B. rlhe plucking of the tuft succeeding to this, the part a t is drawn throug-h the picking comb and completely cleansed. It is clear that in relation to this, the displacement of the fleece or lap is increased by an amount equal to its previous withdrawal in order to obtain the actual movement desired. Further, it is desirable that the amount of this withdrawal should be absolutely independent of the length of feed and that one should be able to regulate it without influencing the latter. For this purpose two mechanisms have been devised, the actions whereof are independent the one of "the other; one controls the ordinary motion,

whereas the other actuates the withdrawal and the additional forward motion corresponding thereto. Figs. 3 to 7 illustrate an arrangement of this kind in five principal positions, which arrangement consists in an ordinary movement of displacement of the feed mechanism; for inst-ance the feed cylinder A is operated by a rack L (Fig. 8) driven by a cam l) (Fig. 3) and by a spring-actuated lever F, the center of rotation F whereof is placed upon a second spring-actuated lever Veo G which is itself controlled by a special cam H, the springs combined with the levers F, G and not shown in the drawing being designed to maintain rollers of these levers in contact with the respective cams D, H. The two cams D and H are keyed upon the same shaft O which revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow. The free end of the guide pivoted to the frame of the machine forms the center of rotation of the lever G. The feed cam D controls the ordinary displacement of the fleece or lap. On the other hand after the combing of the tuft by the rotary comb and before the striking of the picking comb, the cam H. effects the withdrawal of this tuft into the nipper to the length desired, as also during the feed the additional displacement corresponds to the same length as that of the preceding withdrawal. The two cams effect the motion of the lever F.

During the motion of the shaft o the lever F oscillates about the point of its articulation F under the action of the cam D (Fig. 7) consequently its end F moves in the same direction as the point f, that is to say, downwards under the influence of the descending curve d, and upwards under the infiuence of the ascending curve d of the cam D. As shown in the drawing the motion of the point F produces a to and fro longitudinal motion in the rack L by means of the bent lever K. The rack L engages a toothed wheel P keyed upon the shaft of the feed cylinder A. The longitudinal motion which is given by the cam D to the rack, determines the value s which corresponds to the length of the feed. Lnder the action of the cam H the lever F oscillates around the pointf (Fig-4). The end F of the lever F consequently moves always in the contrary direction to that of the point F relatively to the roller g; that is to say downwards under the influence of the ascending curve h and upwards under the influence of the descending curve 7L. From the point F the movement is transmitted to the feed cylinder A by means of the bent lever K, the rack L and the pinion P. The cam H imparts to the rack a to and fro motion of length equal to v, corresponding to the drawing back of the tuft and the additional feed. The control of this value for the drawing back 'uis easily made by the adjustment of the point G placed in the slot of the lever G. The control of this motion depending upon the amount of the vertical stroke of the point F during the oscillation of the lever G, it becomes evident that it is in direct proportion to the horizontal distance between the points G and F. This motion is reduced to Zero by means of bringing the point G directly underneath the point F. The rack L may be disengaged from the pinion P by means of a disengaging finger M adapted to be actuated with the aid of intermediate pieces (not shown) from a cam device or the like on the shaft o in such a way that the dis engagement ofthe rack L is produced at each turn of the cam shaft, at the moment when the feed cam D has given to the feed cylinder its forward motion, and maintained during the backward motion of the rack L (Fig. 7), while the engagement of the parts L, P is obtained for all the other motions by means of a retracting spring (not shown) actuating the rack L. This engagement exists also for the motions produced by the cam H (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).

The Figs. 3 to 7 show in detail the princi pal positions of the mechanism during one revolution of the shaft. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the combing of the end of a tuft (Fig. l) issuing from the closed nipper has just taken place. The rotation of the cams D and H continuing, the roller g comes in contact with the descending curve h of the cam H, the lever G turns a little to the right around the pointG and causes the lever F to turn (which is articulated to G) around the point f which is 'fixed by reason of its support upon the circular portion of the cam D. The end F of the lever F rising, (Fig. 4), the rack L is displaced to the right by an amount e, by means of the bent lever K. Hereupon the feed cylinder A turns backward and draws back the tuft by a corresponding amount a l) (Fig. 2) into the nipper. Before the roller g comes in contact with the part 7b the nipper is opened. The mechanism has then the position shown in Fig. 4. Hereupon the picking comb engages very close to the nipper (Fig. 2) and the head of the vtuft is seized by the plucking cylinders which approach one another, the tuft is plucked from the fleece or lap and finally the picking comb rises again. Meanwhile the cams have advanced into the position illustrated in Fig. 5. The feed motion of the mechanism with the simultaneous drawing back of the nipper takes place immediately afterwards under the influence of the curves, d, h. The curve 7L alone would occasion a displacement of amount o equal to the drawing back produced previously by the curve L, because under its influence the lever F would effect a displacement around f in the inverse direction of the displacement produced previously by the curve 7L so that the rack L would be displaced to the left by an amount e. The curve d alone would produce a rotation of the lever F around the point F which would be transmitted to the point F by a movement in the same direction as the motion caused by the curve 7b, and would therefore cause in the rack L a displacement to the left by an amount s. As these two curves d and h act simultaneously, and turn the lever F in the same direction, their eflect is added together .by a corresponding amount.

moved to the left by the amount s -io equal to the sum of the two separate motions (Fig. 6) so that the fleece or lap is also advanced As has been shown above the curve 7L would cause exactly a displacement equal to the amount previously drawn back, the curve d alone would cause a displacement corresponding to the displacement s of the rack. Fig. 6 illustrates the motion effected. Afterwards the nipper B, B closes again and the combing by means of the rotary comb recommences for the material of anew tuft issuing from the nipper (Fig. l). Meanwhile the rack L draws back by amount S under the action of the curve d after having been previously put out of contact with the pinion P by means of the disengaging finger M (Fig. 7). During this backward motion which commences at the position shown in Fig. 7 the feed cylinder A stops. rlhecombing of the tuft is then accomplished by means of the circular comb and all the parts of the machine having retaken the position shown in Fig. 3, the operation recommences in the manner above described.

It has been supposed in the preceding description that the picking comb placed near to the nipper in front of it and the feed cylinder A remains motionless in the direction of the feed; but in order to prevent obstructions in the feeding, it may be placed also in motion along with the material during the time of its feed. The feed cylinder must pass the material through the nipper. During this motion, if the opening of the jaws is not sufficiently great, there may easily be produced. in the nipper a bunching of the material. Moreover this latter tends sometimesto coil itself about the channeled feed cylinder. lf the head of the tuftis further drawn by the picking comb and this latter moves with the same speed as the feed, the feed'is thereby protected against any such accidents. This motion of the picking comb can be obtained by connecting it with the lever K so that it shall move always in the same direction as the rack L and consequently shall share all the motions of the feed, being of course thrust into the material only during the feed. In this manner the picking comb may be caused to engage at the point I) (Fig. l) before the return motion of the material and it may be caused to move back with it. The material which yields a little during the engagement of the comb will be pressed into this latter by the lower jaw during the motion of the comb towards the nipper, so that one obtains the same final result as is obtained by allowing the picking comb to engage as above, that is to say only after the return motion of the material and very close to the nipper.

For the realization of the invention any other known feed mechanism may be employed in place of the feed cylinder set forth for instance use may be made of a feed grill lwhich can be drawn back by the amount a Z) for the backward motion. of the tuft before the feed plate rises. @ne may also obtain from a single cam all the movements of the material; but in this case an independent control of the actual displacement and of the temporary drawing back cannot be obtained except by interchangeable cams suited to the various requirements.

What we claim is:

1. In a Heilmann combing machine, the combination of a rotary comb, a nipper for gripping the tuft, a feed device combined therewith, a picking comb arranged in front of the nipper and the said feed device, and means for controlling said feed device so as to produce a backward movement of the combed tuft into the nipper to an. extent approximately equal to the distance from the nipper to the point of the tuft issuing from ythe nipper where said tuft ceases to be properly combed by the rotary comb, and to su bsequently cause a forward movement of the tuft corresponding to the degree of backward movement and that of the additional normal feed.

2. In a Heilmann combing machine, the combination of a rotary comb, a nipper for gripping the tuft, a feed device combined therewith, a picking comb arranged in front of the nipper and the said feed device, and means for controlling said feed device, said controlling means comprising a lever F, a cam D for operating such lever to produce the ordinary advance of the material, a second cam H and a lever G to which the lever F is articulated, such cam H and lever G being adapted to produce a withdrawal and an additional advancement of the material, substantially as set forth.

3. In a Heilmann combing machine, the combination of a rotary comb, a nipper for gripping the tuft,A a feed device combined therewith, a picking comb arranged in front of the nipper and the said feed device, and means for controlling said feed device so as to produce a backward movement of the combed. tuft into the nipper to an extent approximately equal to the distance from the nipper to the point of the tuft issuing from the nipper where said tuft ceases to be properly combed by the rotary comb, and to subsequently cause a forward movement of the tuftlcorresponding to the degree of backward movement and that of the additional normal feed, said controlling means being connected to the picking comb so as to cause this latter to participate in its motions.

4. In a Heilmann combing machine, the combination of a rotary comb, a nipper for gripping the tuft, a feed device combined therewith, a picking comb arranged in front of the nipper and the said feed device., and

- means for controlling said feed device so as to produce a backward movement of the tuft into the nipper to an extent approximately equal to its improperly combed portion and to subsequently cause a forward movement oi the tuiit corresponding to the degree of backward movement and that of the normal feed, said controlling means comprising two mechanisms one of which is adapted to produce the ordinaryy forward motion ol the material7 and the other a backward and corresponding additional forward motion of the material, said mechanisms being capable of adjustment to enable the advance of the material as well as its backward motion to be regulated independently.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED WENNNG. CHARLES HUBERT GEGAUFF. l/Vitnesses:

GEO. GIFFORD, AMAND RITTER. 

